Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1910 — Dickinson Family [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dickinson Family

From Dickinson to de Caen looks a far way. Yet, there be those who say that the name Dickinson originated in Just this way. One who lived at Caen, France, removing to another part of the world, was said to be “of,” or “from Caen,” ‘‘de Caen,” and this some one’s son was “de Caen’s son.” To-day de Caen’s son is “Mr. Dickinson." ' Can anything be simpler? Like many another problem, it’s so easy when you know how! "Know how what?” Perhaps some one asks—elegance of diction going iby the board, for the time. “ ‘Know how* to evolve a surname.” This tradition regarding its origin is authorized by those who ought to know. “Ought to know better,” perhaps you *ay. Very well then, if this is but a satisfactory theory there are others, but it seems to be generally considered a fact that the family came originally from France; that a Walter from Caen, called Walter de Caen, went over with the Conqueror and to him William gave the manor of Kenson in Yorkshire. Thus Walter became Walter de Kenson. In 1260 a John Dykonson of Yorkshire, a descendant of Walter, married Margaret Lambert. Names found in old records about this time are William Dykenson, Hugh Anthoyne Dickensonne. About thevend of the fourteenth century the name was generally spelled Dickenson. In 1430 the mayor of Hull, Thomas of this line, spelled it with an “i”—Dickinson. Kenson manor, Yorkshire, was owned by the family as late as 1475, when a Hugh Dickinson was lord of the manor. The lord mayor of London, 1757, was named Diconson. A noted pastoral poet of the sixteenth century was John Dickenson*.

Something more, however, is left to be said regarding the origin of the name. The son of Diccon may easily become Dlckonson and Diccon or Dicon is nickname for Dick, which in turn is of course the nickname for Richard. Dlgnon or ’ Digon are other names evolved from Richard, from which Dickinson may come, more or less directly. Nathaniel is a pilgrim who came over in 1630 In Winthrop’s fleet He was first at Salem, removing to Wethersfield in 1635, where his sons John, Joseph and Thomas were born. His wife was Anna Gull. Hs is also said to have owned property and to have lived at fiadley and was assessor and •town magistrate. Another immigrant *as Obadiah of Hertford. The pilgrims who mad© homes in Pennsylvayda, Maryland and Virginia were Wal-

ter, Henry and John, brothers possibly. They came from London, 1654, and spelled the name Dickenson. A treasured relic is an old Bible, in which one of the first names record-

ed is that of "Ann Dickinson, born May 15, 1715." John Dickinson, the “Pennsylvania Farmer,” as he was called, was a delegate to the general congress of 1765, and therefore an invaluable ancestor for those who desire membership with colonial societies. It is worth some time spent in research of old records if perchance you can annex him'as a relative in direct line. John drafted the resolutions adopted by this congress. To him Is due the phrase: "No taxation without representation." John Dickinson’s father, Samuel, was of the Maryland branch of the family and he also had an estate in Delaware. John’s wife was Mary, daughter of Isaac Norris, who was speaker of the Pennsylvania assembly for 15 years. John Dickinson’s personal appearance must have been far from reassuring. It has been said, and truly, that the American people owe him a great debt of gratitude. The arms illustrated is blazoned azure, a fesse ermine, between two lions passant, or. Crest, a demi-lion, per pale erminols and azure.

Dicfinson